Death Knocks on Hell’s Door Chapter 70

Chapter 70 Removing the Hat

To be each other’s other half of life forever.

Thanatos’ hand, resting beneath the table, curled slightly as he gripped the stool beneath him.

……Why did that sound so much like a wedding vow?

During marriage ceremonies, people always recited a familiar oath: For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will love you and stand by you forever.

And then they would exchange rings, incorporating each other into their lives.

But forever was impossible. Death would part them in the end. Once, a groom had just finished his vows when the ceiling collapsed, killing him on the spot. The God of Death, who had been waiting silently nearby, took him away.

Thanatos had known from the beginning that the man wouldn’t survive. The guests smiled as they offered their blessings, oblivious to the unseen guest in their midst. He watched as the groom spoke with heartfelt devotion, as the bride wept tears of happiness, as the ceiling came smashing through the groom’s head. A joyous occasion turned to tragedy in an instant.

Life was unpredictable. Humanity was fleeting.

But gods were not.

……What was he thinking? How had a single remark from Yanluo led him to thoughts of a wedding?

Was this the sense of ritual Yanluo wanted? A birthday, with the ceremony done like a wedding?

Or maybe this was simply how things were done in the East, and he was just ignorant and ill-informed.

A flurry of chaotic thoughts passed through Thanatos’ mind. He remained motionless, his face hidden beneath his robe, betraying no reaction at all.

Yanluo let out a silent sigh.

The little reaper was truly slow to catch on. Or perhaps he had understood but simply didn’t know how to respond.

Yanluo’s words had been both a hint and a test, but so far, he had gained nothing useful. Thanatos showed neither joy nor rejection, as if completely numb to emotion.

He couldn’t push too hard. Unless he was certain the little reaper shared his feelings, saying “I like you” outright would only serve as a warning sign for the little reaper. If that happened, Thanatos might not even dare to be friends with him anymore. The tiny crack that had finally opened in his heart would slam shut again, and all of Yanluo’s efforts would be wasted.

At that moment, Yanluo suddenly understood why his subordinates, the Black and White Impermanence, had hesitated for a thousand years without confessing. Love, until met with a clear response, was something one could only approach with the utmost caution.

Thanatos’ slow-to-warm personality couldn’t handle a relationship that advanced too quickly. If he moved too fast, Thanatos would only retreat even further. This had to be done step by step.

Fortunately, Yanluo had enough patience.

But unlike those two fools, he had no intention of standing in place for a thousand years, doing nothing at all.

He couldn’t cross the safe distance in one step, but he could inch closer, little by little.

They spent the entire day exploring the scenic wonders of Mount Tai. After a meal of noodles in the afternoon, Yanluo took Thanatos shopping.

Along the way, Thanatos’ gaze lingered on a child holding a pinwheel. Yanluo bought one and placed it in his hand.

Thanatos: “I’m not a child.”

“You’re younger than me. That makes you a child,” Yanluo said matter-of-factly.

Thanatos: “……That’s not necessarily true.”

They were both tens of thousands of years old. Who was older wasn’t exactly clear. His appearance might be youthful, but his age certainly wasn’t.

“Oh?” Yanluo raised an eyebrow. “What’s the first digit of your age?”

They might not remember their exact age down to the year, but the first digit was something no god forgot.

Thanatos: “Three.”

Among the second-generation gods, he was considered relatively young, just over thirty thousand years old.

Yanluo chuckled. “I’m a four. That’s a ten-thousand-year difference.” His smile deepened. “Still think you’re not a child?”

“……” Thanatos gave up arguing.

There was no point in discussing the age of gods. They didn’t die anyway.

The commercial street was packed with tourists, and Yanluo and Thanatos’ attire drew frequent stares. Walking around like this felt strange, and Thanatos wanted to go home. But at the same time, he wanted to stay out a little longer, simply because he was with Yanluo, even though he had no real interest in the things being sold.

It was a contradiction he didn’t quite understand.

In a souvenir shop, Yanluo bought him a set of the four treasures of the study as a birthday gift.

“The quality of mortal ink and brushes isn’t the best, but consider it a memento from this trip. I’ll get you a better set later,” Yanluo said.

Thanatos hesitated. “I don’t know how to use a calligraphy brush.”

He could write beautiful Greek, Latin, and English with a quill, but Western quills and Eastern calligraphy brushes were entirely different things. Besides, he could read traditional Chinese characters, but he couldn’t write them. Buying this would just be a waste.

“I can teach you.” Yanluo had not forgotten his glorious mission of cultural exchange.

Thanatos didn’t refuse again. In the end, he accepted the gift.

It was the first birthday present he had ever received.

“Thank you,” he murmured, so softly it was almost inaudible.

But Yanluo heard him.

“No need to be polite with a friend,” he said. “From now on, I’ll give you a birthday gift every year.”

Thanatos blurted out, “What if I go back to Greece?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. Why had he asked that?

It was almost as if…… he didn’t want to go back. Because if he did, he wouldn’t be able to see Yanluo anymore.

But he had to return. This trip was only to fulfill Hades’ order. The underworld in Greece was currently being managed by departed spirits in his absence, but that wasn’t a long-term solution. The departed spirits couldn’t handle the relentless workload forever.

Even if they were friends…… wouldn’t distance eventually wear their bond thin?

He didn’t want to lose this friend.

Thanatos suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to part. Yanluo was right in front of him, yet the mere thought of their future separation made him feel like he was already beginning to miss him.

Yanluo, however, remained perfectly at ease. “Then I’ll just send it to you. Or I could ask the twenty-eight constellations to arrange my visa and fly over myself. I might as well take the chance to travel. But I’m not familiar with Greece, so you’d have to be my guide.”

He smiled. “They say having more friends opens more doors. With a friend by your side, there’s nowhere in the world to be afraid of.”

The faint unease in Thanatos’ heart suddenly settled.

Yanluo had said he would come find him.

He wouldn’t lose his friend.

By the time they returned to Qingzhou from Tai’an, night had already fallen.

They had set out in darkness and returned in darkness, as if everything that had happened in the daylight had been nothing more than a fleeting dream, one where the sun had never truly touched him.

Seeing the familiar apartment building, Thanatos thought, So the day is over.

Time had passed so quickly.

Walking through crowds had always felt like an agonizingly slow ordeal, but with Yanluo beside him, he hadn’t even noticed its passage.

He had enjoyed himself today, so much so that he now felt a bit lost.

“Let’s go in,” Yanluo said.

Thanatos hummed in acknowledgment and slowly followed.

When they reached the apartment door, Yanluo patted his pockets, then turned back with a sheepish look. “I forgot my key. Did you bring yours?”

Thanatos glanced down, fished out his key, and stepped forward. Yanluo shifted to the side, letting him unlock the door.

Thanatos slid the key into the lock. The moment the door swung open, and before he could even reach for the light switch, the room suddenly flooded with light.

From above, colorful streamers rained down like a celestial blessing, scattering over him in a dazzling cascade.

Thanatos stopped in his tracks.

The living room on the first floor had been completely transformed. Balloons, flowers, and streamers filled the space, and on the wall, a cluster of balloons spelled out Happy Birthday in bold English letters.

A long rectangular dining table sat in the center, covered with steaming, fragrant dishes.

A group of people, or rather, gods, emerged, carrying an enormous birthday cake. As they gathered around him, they began to sing:

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you……”

It was the kind of setup commonly seen at countless human birthdays.

But to Thanatos, it was something entirely new. He had never experienced this before.

He stood frozen, staring at the gods who had come together for him.

Among them were the Black and White Impermanence, as well as Venus and his small family, and all residents of this apartment building. There was also Cui Jue, the judge he had met at Yanluo Hotel.

Beyond them stood several other Eastern gods, ones he had never seen before.

Completely out of his depth, Thanatos instinctively turned his head, seeking help from Yanluo, even though he knew Yanluo couldn’t see his expression.

But Yanluo showed no surprise at the scene. Instead, he smoothly joined the others. And just as Thanatos turned to him, he smiled and sang along:

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you……”

Then, they switched to the English version of the song.

Under his robes, Thanatos’ hands fidgeted, unsure where to rest.

A woman holding the cake stepped forward, smiling warmly. “Thanatos, nice to meet you. I’m Granny Meng, full name, Meng Wan. Just call me by my name.” She gestured around. “These are Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and over there are Zhong Kui, Wei Zheng, Cui Jue, and Lu Zhidao. As for those three from Greece, I don’t think I need to introduce them. You probably know them better than I do.”

Thanatos had already guessed their identities, but having it confirmed made him feel unexpectedly self-conscious.

He had never gotten over his mental hurdle about meeting his online friends in real life.

He didn’t expect that the first time they met in person, they would be preparing such a big surprise for him.

……But how did they even know it was his birthday?

Even Venus and his family weren’t close enough to know something like that.

The only person who did was Yanluo.

Once again, Thanatos instinctively turned to look at him.

Yanluo smiled. “Why do you keep looking at me? Hurry up and make a wish. You need to blow out the candles.”

Thanatos wanted to ask, Was this your idea?

All these Eastern gods were under Yanluo’s command. And Yanluo hadn’t looked the least bit surprised by any of this.

Thanatos opened his mouth but hesitated. The question remained unspoken.

If this was truly Yanluo’s doing, then Yanluo had done far too much for him.

This level of kindness seemed to go beyond mere virtue.

Seeing that Thanatos was still looking at him, Yanluo added with a smile, “A birthday celebration for our little reaper wouldn’t be complete without both longevity noodles and cake. Besides, they all wanted to celebrate with you.”

That day, Yanluo had gathered everyone in the Underworld Work group chat and assigned them a special mission: to plan a surprise birthday party for Thanatos.

Taking him to Mount Tai for the day had been the perfect excuse, giving Granny Meng and the others enough time to decorate the living room.

Venus’ family had also come at Yanluo’s invitation. Since they were fellow Greek gods, he thought their presence might help Thanatos feel a little more at home in this foreign land. Venus, who had once worn the black robe of the God of Death, still felt grateful toward Thanatos and had readily agreed. Cupid, eager for birthday cake, had been just as enthusiastic. And with both his wife and child attending, Poseidon had naturally joined as well.

Lowering his gaze, Thanatos felt a surge of gratitude, warmth, and a strange, aching sweetness.

For some reason, he also felt like crying.

His emotions were becoming more and more human. In the past, he had been able to empathize with mortals, but always from a detached perspective. Now, he was feeling everything himself.

It was as if coming to this city had pulled him into the mortal realm.

“Hurry up and make a wish already!” Meng Wan urged, shifting the cake slightly. “My arms are getting sore!”

Thanatos felt a little awkward. He had never celebrated a birthday before and had no idea what wish to make. As he hesitated, he turned his head slightly, only to see Yanluo standing right beside him. Startled, he quickly looked away, his face inexplicably burning.

Closing his eyes, he recalled what Yanluo had said that morning and silently made his wish.

I want to step into the light.

He kept his eyes shut for a moment longer and, in the quiet of his heart, added five more words.

With Yanluo by my side.

Then, he opened his eyes and gently blew out the candles.

Cheers erupted around him. Meng Wan and the others set the cake on the table, playing their roles as the ultimate mood-setters with absolute dedication.

“Cake! Time to cut the cake!” Zhong Kui’s gruff voice boomed. “After a busy day, we can finally have something to eat!”

Lu Zhidao, more refined in manner, laughed. “This cake was personally ordered by His Majesty, and the dishes on this table were all on his tab. A rare treat indeed.”

Thanatos’ eyelashes trembled as he turned to look at Yanluo. An indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

So it really had been Yanluo’s surprise.

Yanluo took the knife, carefully slicing the cake. Then, he handed the largest piece to Thanatos.

“Try it,” he said with a smile.

Thanatos couldn’t find the words to refuse.

He scooped a small spoonful of cake and slowly placed it into his mouth.

The taste wasn’t much different from any other dessert.

But the meaning behind it was wonderful.

For the first time, he experienced what it was like to have his birthday acknowledged, to feel as if his existence, his very birth, mattered.

Nearby, Cupid had already started on his own slice, his lips smeared with cream as he happily licked his fingers.

He fluttered over to Thanatos, his voice filled with innocent sincerity. “Big Brother God of Death, can’t you have a birthday every day? That way, I’d get to eat cake every day!”

Thanatos: “……”

Well, at least someone was excited about his birthday, right?

The gods laughed and chatted, each taking turns to offer Thanatos their birthday wishes and gifts. The once-distant presence of these immortals now felt much closer.

They didn’t leave until well past midnight, and at last, the apartment fell silent.

Thanatos had never felt so fulfilled, so genuinely happy.

And it was all because of Yanluo.

Returning to Room 401, Thanatos closed the door and softly said to Yanluo, “Thank you.”

Yanluo laughed. “Why thank me again? Didn’t we agree that friends don’t have to be so polite? Or do you not consider me a friend?”

Thanatos replied immediately, “We are friends.”

After everything that had happened today, he had gained a group of friends.

Yanluo was the most important one.

Yanluo curved his lips into a smile. “Then, my friend, why don’t you take off your hood and let me see your face? It feels a little distant to keep hiding your true face, even from a friend.”

Thanatos hesitated.

He was used to staying hidden beneath his robes. The thought of facing Yanluo directly sent a wave of nervousness through him.

Why was his face suddenly heating up?

If Yanluo saw him like this, he would notice how red he had gotten. How was he supposed to explain that?

That only made him even more reluctant to face him……

But if he didn’t take off his robe, it would mean he didn’t truly see Yanluo as a friend.

And he cherished Yanluo as a friend.

Thanatos’ heart began to struggle.

Yanluo watched him remain motionless. To say he wasn’t disappointed would be a lie, but he didn’t push. His voice remained gentle. “It’s okay. If you don’t want to, I won’t look. It’s late, get some rest.”

“Wait—” Thanatos called out just as Yanluo was about to turn away.

Yanluo paused, glancing back. The moment he saw a bony, skeletal hand emerge from beneath the robe, he had a premonition.

Slender bone fingers grasped the fabric, pulling it down to reveal a small, white, smooth skull head. The empty eye sockets were staring at the floor, not daring to look at Yanluo very much.

Yanluo: “……”

As long as he was all bones, Yanluo wouldn’t see him blush.

The clever Thanatos thought to himself.

But Yanluo remained silent for too long. The prolonged pause made Thanatos uneasy.

Was his appearance so hideous that he had frightened Yanluo?

He was well aware that his skeletal form wasn’t considered attractive by conventional standards. In fact, most would find it terrifying.

This was, however, one of his true forms. If Yanluo found it repulsive, Thanatos knew he would feel insecure. He would retreat into his robes and never take them off again.

Just as he was about to hastily pull his hood back up, Yanluo spoke, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

“Truly beautiful. And cute.”

Thanatos: “……?”

He was in full skeletal form, wasn’t he?

Yanluo, completely serious, continued, “Beauty is in the bone, not the flesh. And yours is flawless.”

Then, with quiet curiosity, he asked, “Would you be willing to take off your robe and let me see the rest of your skeleton?”

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